Chapter 1: Information Security Fundamentals

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals

Second Edition

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

2

Objectives

• Identify the challenges for information security

• Define information security

• Explain the importance of information security

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

3

Objectives

• List and define information security terminology

• Describe the CompTIA Security+ certification exam

• Describe information security careers

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

4

• Challenge of keeping networks and computers secure has never been greater

• A number of trends illustrate why security is becoming increasingly difficult

• Many trends have resulted in security attacks growing at an alarming rate

Identifying the Challenges for Information Security

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

5

• Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) security organization compiles statistics regarding number of reported attacks, including:

– Speed of attacks

– Sophistication of attacks

– Faster detection of weaknesses

– Distributed attacks

– Difficulties of patching

Identifying the Challenges for Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

6

Identifying the Challenges for Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

7

Identifying the Challenges for Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

8

• Information security:

– Tasks of guarding digital information, which is typically processed by a computer (such as a personal computer), stored on a magnetic or optical storage device (such as a hard drive or DVD), and transmitted over a network spacing

Defining Information Security

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

9

• Ensures that protective measures are properly implemented

• Is intended to protect information

• Involves more than protecting the information itself

Defining Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

10

Defining Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

11

• Three characteristics of information must be protected by information security:

– Confidentiality

– Integrity

– Availability

• Center of diagram shows what needs to be protected (information)

• Information security achieved through a combination of three entities

Defining Information Security (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

12

Understanding the Importance of Information Security

• Information security is important to businesses:

– Prevents data theft

– Avoids legal consequences of not securing information

– Maintains productivity

– Foils cyberterrorism

– Thwarts identity theft

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

13

Preventing Data Theft

• Security often associated with theft prevention

• Drivers install security systems on their cars to prevent the cars from being stolen

• Same is true with information security―businesses cite preventing data theft as primary goal of information security

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

14

Preventing Data Theft (continued)

• Theft of data is single largest cause of financial loss due to a security breach

• One of the most important objectives of information security is to protect important business and personal data from theft

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

15

Avoiding Legal Consequences

• Businesses that fail to protect data may face serious penalties

• Laws include:

– The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

– The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Sarbox)

– The Cramm-Leach-Blilely Act (GLBA)

– USA PATRIOT Act 2001

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

16

Maintaining Productivity

• After an attack on information security, clean-up efforts divert resources, such as time and money away from normal activities

• A Corporate IT Forum survey of major corporations showed:

– Each attack costs a company an average of $213,000 in lost man-hours and related costs

– One-third of corporations reported an average of more than 3,000 man-hours lost

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

17

Maintaining Productivity (continued)

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

18

• An area of growing concern among defense experts are surprise attacks by terrorist groups using computer technology and the Internet (cyberterrorism)

• These attacks could cripple a nation’s electronic and commercial infrastructure

• Our challenge in combating cyberterrorism is that many prime targets are not owned and managed by the federal government

Foiling Cyberterrorism

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

19

Thwarting Identity Theft

• Identity theft involves using someone’s personal information, such as social security numbers, to establish bank or credit card accounts that are then left unpaid, leaving the victim with the debts and ruining their credit rating

• National, state, and local legislation continues to be enacted to deal with this growing problem

– The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 is a federal law that addresses identity theft

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

20

Understanding Information Security Terminology

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

21

Exploring the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam

• Since 1982, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has been working to advance the growth of the IT industry

• CompTIA is the world’s largest developer of vendor-neutral IT certification exams

• The CompTIA Security+ certification tests for mastery in security concepts and practices

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

22

Exploring the CompTIA Security+ Certification Exam (continued)

• Exam was designed with input from security industry leaders, such as VeriSign, Symantec, RSA Security, Microsoft, Sun, IBM, Novell, and Motorola

• The Security+ exam is designed to cover a broad range of security topics categorized into five areas or domains

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

23

Surveying Information Security Careers

• Information security is one of the fastest growing career fields

• As information attacks increase, companies are becoming more aware of their vulnerabilities and are looking for ways to reduce their risks and liabilities

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

24

Surveying Information Security Careers (continued)

• Sometimes divided into three general roles:

– Security manager develops corporate security plans and policies, provides education and awareness, and communicates with executive management about security issues

– Security engineer designs, builds, and tests security solutions to meet policies and address business needs

– Security administrator configures and maintains security solutions to ensure proper service levels and availability

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

25

Summary

• The challenge of keeping computers secure is becoming increasingly difficult

• Attacks can be launched without human intervention and infect millions of computers in a few hours

• Information security protects the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of information on the devices that store, manipulate, and transmit the information through products, people, and procedures

Security+ Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, 2e

26

Summary (continued)

• Information security has its own set of terminology

• A threat is an event or an action that can defeat security measures and result in a loss

• CompTIA has been working to advance the growth of the IT industry and those individuals working within it

• CompTIA is the world’s largest developer of vendor-neutral IT certification exams